Projects / Programmes
Root pathogenic Cylindrocarpon species of Vitis vinifera in Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B390 |
Biomedical sciences |
Phytotechny, horticulture, crop protection, phytopathology |
biocontrol; comparative genomics; fungal biodiversity; detection; diagnostics; emerging plant pathogens; invasive plant pathogens; phylogenetics; root pathogens
Researchers (5)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Black foot disease of grapevines is caused by cylindrocarpon-like weak pathogens of the genera Cylindrocarpon (anamorphic Neonectria) and Campylocarpon in vine producing countries world-wide. It affects mainly young, up to 8 year old plants that suffer from various kinds of stress. Four Cylindrocarpon-like species are known to cause this disease, of which C. destructans and C. macrodidymum are of particular importance in various climates. One of these, C. macrodidymum, has also been isolated from diseased roots of grapevines in Slovenia. An additional, not yet identified Cylindrocarpon-like species was recently isolated from diseased grapevine roots in the south-eastern part of Slovenia. Preliminary results indicate that this species has not yet been detected in Europe or from diseased grapevines, however, a morphologically similar species is known from Papua New Guinea, Brazil and New Zealand.
In the suggested project, the distribution of Cylindrocarpon-like species pathogenic to grapevines is analyzed in the three different vine producing regions of Slovenia, namely Dolenjska, Štajerska and Primorska. These three regions are partly characterized by different climatic conditions, soil types and generally by diverse viticulture practices. Classical isolation techniques and molecular detection systems will be applied. Identifications of occurring Cylindrocarpon-like species will be made possible through morphological descriptions and by generating appropriate DNA sequences also allowing phylogenetic inferences. For the encountered Cylindrocarpon pathogens, but mainly for C. macrodidymum, of which various strains are available from different continents, the intraspecific genetic variation will be analyzed and the mating type genes characterized. These parameters are important for epidemiological inferences of the pathogens and their adaptive genotypic diversity. Potential fungal biocontrol agents are isolated from healthy grapevine roots for further implementations of biocontrol strategies. Pathogenicity test will be established particularly for Cylindrocarpon-like species not yet known as root pathogens of grapevines.
